Nathan Kilcrease hugs catcher Brock Bennett after recording the final out Monday night to win the NCAA regional at Georgia Tech (AP photo).

ATLANTA -- Little man Nathan Kilcrease has pitched himself into a big place in the history of Alabama's baseball program.

Three days after throwing the Crimson Tide to victory in the first game of this weekend's NCAA regional tournament, the 5-foot-5 Kilcrease came on to fire the final six innings of a 10-8 victory Monday night over top-seeded host Georgia Tech, clinching a regional title and Alabama's first NCAA super regional appearance since 2006.

"We wouldn't have done it without that guy on the mound," Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard said. "It was just a remarkable effort on his part."

After tossing 99 pitches Friday against Elon, Kilcrease managed to turn an early shootout into a tense pitchers' duel Monday while never leaving the game. His 107th pitch was a fly out to end it, triggering a celebration among Alabama's team on the infield.

Clay Jones (16) celebrates a three-run home run in the fourth inning Monday (AP photo).Meanwhile, traveling Crimson Tide fans cheered in the stands and even offered a "Rammer Jammer" chant while later being acknowledged by a baseball team that had won three consecutive games at Russ Chandler Stadium after losing Saturday to Georgia Tech.

Alabama (41-23) now advances to face Clemson, which downed Auburn on Monday to advance out of the Auburn Regional.

The Crimson Tide found out minutes after Monday's victory that it will be on the road for the super regional, which begins at Clemson at 5 p.m. Saturday and will be televised by ESPNU. Game two will be at 6 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2 with a third game (if necessary) to follow Monday at either noon or 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

"I'm happy for our players," Gaspard said. "Obviously, the program too, it elevates where we're at. But I'm more happy for the 25 players out there. They've stayed the course and done it the right way, and they deserve exactly what they're getting right now."

Monday dealt a crushing loss to the Yellow Jackets (47-15), who entered the NCAA tournament as the national No. 8 seed and fell twice to the Crimson Tide in two days.

Georgia Tech players after the final out (AP photo)."Most of those guys are probably in tears," Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall said. "That would be the best way I could probably describe it."

Like much of Alabama's 2010 season, this all-or-nothing showdown was a fight.

Pitching woes plagued both teams early with staffs exhausted as the regional had reached its fourth day. The teams combined for 26 hits and of the game's first eight half-innings, all but one produced at least one run.

Alabama was on its third pitcher of the evening with only one inning recorded in the scorebook. Freshman starter Taylor Wolfe didn't make it out of the first inning, allowing two home runs to the first six batters. Matt Taylor allowed a hit and two walks before departing after four batters.

Another lefty, Jonathan Smart, came on and limited the damage for Alabama, allowing one run in the second and third before Kilcrease came to the rescue in the fourth. Georgia Tech climbed in front 6-3 before Alabama plated five in the top of the fourth to get the lead to 8-6, with the big shot being a three-run home run by Clay Jones. The Yellow Jackets tied it in the bottom of the fourth off Kilcrease.

"After that, the adrenaline took over," Kilcrease said with a smile. "I'm a little tired now."

While Kilcrease didn't have his best stuff immediately, he gradually did what seemed impossible, somehow cooling Georgia Tech's bats. He posted zeros on the scoreboard the final five innings.

After originally telling Gaspard that he had three innings in him, Kilcrease just kept throwing strikes, fanning eight batters. Gaspard checked with him after each inning.

"No matter if my arm was falling off," Kilcrease said. "I was going to tell him I felt good."

Thanks to three consecutive walks by Georgia Tech reliever Patrick Long, Alabama was able to plate two runs in the top of the sixth, providing a 10-8 lead. After that, Gaspard simply rode Kilcrease to the finish line.

"When it got to back end of the game, I think as much as anything the team believed so much in that kid," Gaspard said. "We were going to keep the ball in his hands and we were going to win or lose with No. 28 on the mound. We felt pretty good that he was going to take us home, and that's what he did."

Gaspard sent Kilcrease out for the eighth, and then the ninth inning as Alabama still clung to a two-run lead. Two batters reached in the ninth. The crowd roared before Kilcrease finally ended it and was mobbed by teammates.

He was named most outstanding player of the regional for his efforts.

"Small in stature, big in heart," Alabama third baseman Jake Smith said. "That's what I always say about him. He's one of the greatest competitors I've ever played with."